Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 189: Shri Durgama (OM durgamAyai namaH)

In Namams 188 to 198, the Divine Mother’s  glory is described.

The Divine Mother is approachable only with extreme efforts. 

Durgama means not easily reachable. It is not easy to reach the Divine Mother; any precious item is very difficult to obtain.  

For example take a diamond: one has to go deep inside the earth and with all hurdles and risk one may find a valuable diamond. This is case with earthly item; one can imagine what amount of efforts, concentration one has to put in reach the Divine Mother.

Durga means a fort. Capturing a fort is not an easy task. It will require greater efforts. 

The Divine Mother has created many kinds of creatures in this universe. She holds them under Her control. To get liberation from the cycle of birth and death and to merge with the Supreme Self is the aim of the devotees. 

 Getting liberation is not easy for many humans. Of the billions of the people trying to reach the Brahman, perhaps one may get a chance to fulfill his aim. The Brahman is not a viable option for many, unless the divine mother blesses them, granting liberation. 

Yogic meditations and or other rituals, performed to reach Her are not easy, unless She shows Her infinite kindness to grant them liberation. 

Adurgama may mean the opposite of what we talked above. It means that She is easily reached by Her ardent devotees with only pure heart. So it can mean that the Divine Mother is attainable for Her favoured devotees. She is not having any obstacle which is impassable for those selected devotees. 

 

C N Nachiappun           

Singapore, 31 July 2020.

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.       Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.     The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar.